Friday, November 26, 2010

Billy Ruane Memorial Birthday Bash

It was a amazing night. Both Middle East and TT's were sold out. I never made it over to TT's, but the Middle East was rockin'. Many Billy lookalikes from every decade. I've never seen so many sportcoats at a rock show.

Mary Lou Lord was a passionate emcee and told a lot of Billy stories. The slide show (video) was very cool, with Warren Zevon's "Excitable Boy" as it's soundtrack. Musical highlights for me were Joe Harvard, originally from Boston, now in Asbury Park, NJ; Tanya Donelly, who sang Lucinda Williams' "Little Angel, Little Brother" for Billy; at least a few minutes of Chris Browkaw's 11 minute feedback sonata on an acoustic electric; Peter Wolf, Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents, Buffalo Tom (whose first gig was booked by Billy in 1988?) and Lady Lamb the Beekeeper.

Reviews:



The video below shows lots of pictures throughout the years. The song and performance used was "Beluga" by Lady Lamb the Beekeeper (Aly Spaltro from Portland, ME). It was the last song of the night, played by the emotional 19-year old, who was one of Billy's latest finds.


A Kickstarter project is now in the works for the Official Billy Ruane Documentary by Michael Gill. You can view the video from the night on the page.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Gram National Photos

Photos from the 3rd annual Gram National, the two night festival celebration of the music of alt-country pioneer Gram Parsons.
Precinct Bar, Nov 5 & 6, 2010.

 
















Previously in Nashville, Gram National was held for the first time in Boston in 2010. The Beantown connection being that he attended Harvard and formed the International Submarine Band here in 1966. Gram died in 1973 at the age of 26, but his vision of  "Cosmic American Music" is still alive today. He should have been 64 on November 5.
 
[Click on image below for more photos]
Tabblo: Gram National 2010
Pictured above: Lydia Loveless, Cosmic American Derelicts, Twang 'em High, The Molenes, 25 Pearl, Loose Salute, Highway Ghosts, Lynda Lucas, Sarah Blacker and Maureen Kavanaugh

Monday, November 1, 2010

Gram National, Nov 5-6 at Precinct

This weekend (Fri, Nov 5 and Sat, Nov 6) brings Gram National 2010 to Precinct, a two-night showcase of the music of Gram Parsons. This the the 3rd annual celebration and the first in Boston, the place where Gram first attended Harvard and founded the International Submarine Band in 1966.




Gram is considered widely influential and a pioneer in alt-country and Americana music. He is pictured with friend Keith Richards at Villa Nellcote during the recording of The Rolling Stones' seminal album "Exile on Main Street".

Below is the schedule from the Precinct website (subject to change)

Fri, Nov 5
  •  7:30 Jenee Halstead
  •  8:00 Maynard & The Musties
  •  8:50 Brian Molnar
  •  9:40 Cosmic American Derelicts
  •  10:30 Lydia Loveless
  •  11:20 Twang Em High
  •  12:10 Highway Ghosts
  •  1:00 Jenee & Lindia
Sat, Nov 6
  •  7:30 Jenee Hallstead
  •  8:00 Rocking Horse Rodeo
  •  8:50 Lynda Lucas
  •  9:40 Jeff Byrd & Dirty Finch
  •  10:30 The Molenes
  •  11:20 25 Pearl
  •  12:10 Loose Salute
  •  1:00 Lynda Lucas / Derelicts 

See you there!